District 309 School Board expels student after fire

The District 309 School Board voted Monday night to expel a 15-year-old student for two years. The student was arrested Oct. 18 on a charge of aggravated arson after a fire at East Peoria Community High School Oct. 18.

The arrest occurred the same day as the fire at the high school.The District 309 School Board voted Monday night to expel a 15-year-old student who was arrested Oct. 18 on a charge of aggravated arson.

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East Peoria Times-Courier - East Peoria, IL

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Posted Oct. 31, 2012 at 9:44 AM
Updated Oct 31, 2012 at 10:05 AM

Posted Oct. 31, 2012 at 9:44 AM
Updated Oct 31, 2012 at 10:05 AM

The District 309 School Board voted Monday night to expel a 15-year-old student for two years. The student was arrested Oct. 18 on a charge of aggravated arson after a fire at East Peoria Community High School Oct. 18.

The arrest occurred the same day as the fire at the high school.

Detective Sgt. Brian Despines said the fire happened at 12:36 p.m. in the boy's restroom off the cafeteria.

Despines said the student told police that he found a lighter and lit the toilet paper dispenser on fire. He was going to throw it into the toilet but it got too hot, so he walked out of the restroom.

Another student walked into the bathroom, saw the fire and set off the fire alarm before alerting school officials. There were about 600 students in the cafeteria at the time of the fire.

"At the time of the report, he was transported to the juvenile detention center," Despines said.

"It was the cooperation of the school and their video system that helped us," he added.

Despines said the student who was arrested said, "I did a dumb thing."

Initial estimates from the East Peoria Fire Department indicated there was $5,000 in damages.

According to Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart Umholtz, a 15-year-old is charged as a Juvenile.

"Juvenile Court can retain jurisdiction until he is 21 years old. As in all juvenile cases, a thorough investigation and evaluation will be completed to determine appropriate sentencing conditions if he is adjudicated on these charges. In all likelihood he may face incarceration and/or probation until he reaches 21 years of age," Umholtz said.